Even £30k a year isn't enough to survive as a single person in the UK anymore. After tax, National Insurance and pension, that's around £2,047 a month. Then you've got £900 rent, £140 council tax, £150 utilities, £300 food, £50 phone, £30 WiFi and £350 for car insurance, tax and fuel. That's £1,920 a month just to cover the basics, leaving you with £127 for everything else. No clothes. No nights out. No holidays. No emergencies. No savings. And people still wonder why single people can't get ahead.